Air-brake



E. F. PIERS.

AIR BRAK-E.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21. 1919.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' AnoNEYg E. F. PIERS.

A 1R BRAKE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21,1919.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

Laws.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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EBER FRANCIS l IER-S, 0F OGDEN, UTAH.

AIR-BRAKE.

lessees.

Specification of Letters Patent.

:Patentecl Nov. 25, 1919.

Application filed March 21, 1919. Serial No. 284,014.

10 allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Earn F. PIERS, a, citizen of the United States, residing at O den, in the county of Webeniltate of Utah, iave invented a new and Improved Air-Brake, of which the following is a specification.

My invention, which relates to the art of air brake systems in which the braking power is transmitted to the wheels of the car by the action or compressed air delivered, under control of the operative, to a cylinder in which the power applying piston operates, has for its primary object to provide m ans whereby a service application of the brakes is effected automatically, even though the operative .moves his controlling valve for an'emergency action, thus preventing the wheels from becoming locked and remaining so long enough to form (6 fl t Another object of the invention is to provide an efiectiveand sensitive (in responsiveness) means for relieving the air pressure in the brake cylinder when the car wheels become locked (stopped) bythe too sudden or severe application or" the braking air, and to provide a simple apparatus for the purpose which will operate efi'ectively regardless of weather conditions, the apparatus being of such construction and design as to reduce the number of parts to the minimum and thereby lessen the danger of failure of operation, to the minimum.

A further object or the present invention is to provide an electrically controlled mechanism for setting the relief valve to its air releasing position the instant the car wheel ceases to turn, and immediately restore the valve to its normal position as soon as the pressure is relieved enough for the wheel to begin turning again, means being also provided whereby efiective braking action of a predetermined degree is res rved in the brake cylinder to er ect a service application of braking pressure on the wheels until.

the air is released at theoperatives control valve. 3

In its general naturethe invention comprises a compound valve adapted to be piped, as a branch, to the air bra re system in the line between the operatives control valve and the brake cylinder or the triple valve, an;

: cylinder and the operatives control valve electric circuit governor operated (preferably) directly by the wheel axle and located within the axle bearing box, and electromagnetically operated and controlled means for shiftin the compoundvalve as a unit to its vdiierent positions and including switch devices operatively controlled by the circuit governor.

In its more specific aspect the invention further includes those novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully de scribed and thenbe specifically pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the preferred form of compound valve which constitutes one or" the arincipal parts of my present invention, t e parts being shown in the standing position.

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1.

Fig. t is a cross section on the line 4- l oi Fig. 1.

Fig. 5fis a diagrammatic sectional view similar to Fig. '1 illustrating the position of the valve when the parts are in-the running position brakes released.

, Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic View similar to Fig. 5, the'parts being shown in the running position brakes set.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, the parts being shown at the time the wheel becomes locked and stops turning, and showing the parts in the position to efi ect the air release Fig. 8 represents the wiring diagram showing the operating and controlling cir-'.

cuits.

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the governor mechanism which I prefer to employ in connection with the compound valve.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a modified form of the invention. In the drawings, in which like numeral and letters of reference indicate like parts inall or the figures, 1 designates the cylinder body which is provided with a chambered portion 2 that is adapted to communicate with the brake cylinder, the communication being effected either by a pipe connection directly to the. pressure chamber of the brake cylinder, or by. a pipe connection to the air line at some point between the brake or the triple valve as may be found convenient.

The cylinder body 1s also proiuded with a port 3to atmosphere, the port 8 being -controlled by a suitable pin valveifl so thatthe- .escape of air may be regulated.

' 1 designates the slide valve which, infthe' preferred form, is directly operated through the electro-magnetic instrumentalities, The,

valve i is chamberedto receive the air and spring-operated slide valve which 'valve is 1 assisted in its travel in one direction by a suitable sprmg 6."

U The' valve 5 is, in practice,made of 'nonmagnetlc material so as t'o'be free from the fi ue1 1ce of the magnetic forces" which op crate themaste'r' valve a."

' The inaster valve 4- lSPl'OViClGCl with a rality. of spaced piston portions j 46%, having chambers 93, y; .z'between'them; The chain here 00, 1;," zncon'nnunicate with the interior of'the valve '& through ports 51,52 and 53,'re'-' spectively.

. "The valve 5, which 'ofthe fleating type, i. 6., is'not provided with operating stenis,

' consists of a central bobbiirlike body 5, the

a threaded shank fiflpassing "through the e'n'd s'of which ar'e grooved at .5. to'receive the ,7

piston rings 5, the rings 5 being heldmin place by end plates5'5 thelatter having bobbin-like portion of the valve and screwthat armature v7', the valve 5 maybe removed block which carries the switch contactors 12, 7

, and" replaced, for. inspection. The valve. 4:.

has a grooved at its right handend to pre vent theformation of' a vacuuin' between the end of the valve 5 and the r ght hand end of.

the valve chamber in which it operates.

Each armature 7 is provided with an insulating bushing 8 in which ismounted. a contact piece 9, preferably of cylindrical shape with its extremity rounded or tapered. The contact pieces 9 are preferably made of.

copper. p

' l0 designates the actuating coils of magnet wire which, when energized, serve through their action on the respectivearmatures 7 to shift the master valve 4, and its. contained floating valve from one end to another of' the cylinder, as will be later explained. V t 1 11 is an. adjustably mounted insulating the switch contactors 12 being secured to the insulating block 11 with screw and slot connection so that they mayhave a limited movement from and toward each other, the movement toward each other being effected bythe springs 13 which also insure contact between the contactors 12 and the contact piece 9 when the same is inserted between the cont actors 12;?- The casings 16 which house the sets of .contactors 12 and the mag- .netcoils, are provided at one end with an opening that'is normally closed by a cap 15.

From the enter end of each of the casings 161s out a pa r ofparallelslots 1-1 in which I the insu1ating'b1ocr11 is mounted for longitudinal adjustment and secured in any'de sired way, as by a fscrewand sletconnection: fOreXample.

Th -c ng b'ered portion 17 that is in 'com-rnun-icatmn 1 is provided with chain 1 with the interior ofthecasing through ports Th butlet'ofthe chambered er tion l7iscove'red'witha scre n 17= r 1 '18 designates the cylinder heads 5 for the cylinder bodyor casingl and thes'e heads 18 also support the inagnets lO to which they are secured in any desired way. The

casings 16' and; the". cylinderlheads 18 are secured to the flanged endsfof the cylinder lbymachine screws.19. referring to the wiring diagram, it Willbe'noticed that the right hand coil 10, Fig. 1 ,"is indicated by the reference character A in this figure, and the left hand coil 10, Fig.1, is indicated by thereference character. A in wiring diagram,.Figf '8 The left hand circuit closing contactors 1'2''-12 of-l$ig. 1 are indicated by therefere ence character B in'FigwS, and the right hand set of contactors is indicated by the character Bf'inthe wiring diagram'. '1 I 1 j C designates the .sourceof energy which by preference is a storage hatteryof any;

approved type, IE, the condenser, D, the" speed control governor .(se'e diagrammatic view, Fig. 9) F, ground connections, the high resistance coil of the relay, H, the armature of the. relay, *1, thespring for" regulating the armatnre when the'coil' G is deenergized, L t-he circnit breaker contacts oftherrelay forth'e: right hand coil A, andv K,the circuitbrealrer contacts of the relay for the left'hand coil'A of the compound valve apparatus. The battery C has one of its poles connected to each of the coils.

A--A (10), the left hand coil having its other terminal connected toone cfthe contactors 12 of the right hand setB, while the other coil A has'its other terminal con ,nected' with one. of thecontactors 12013 the left hand set 13. The other contactor' of the left hand set Bconnects'with one of the. terin1nals J of the relay, the other terminal J ofthe relay connecting with one. ofthe terminals K and also with the storage. battery C, while the other of the terminals K connects with the remaining contactor 12.0f the right hand switch B.

at F and the other end inconnection with one pole of the storage battery, the other pole of which is connected to one contact I I I The high reslstance relay c011 Ghas oneend grounded element 27 of the governor while the other contact element 26 of the governor is grounded at F, the'condenser E being connected across the terminals 26-27 respectively to prevent arcing. i 7 V In the present application Lhave only diagrammatically illustrated the circuit governor, 'This governor maybe of any approved type which will close the electric circuit as soon as the car wheel starts to turn and open the circuit the instant the car wheel stops turning butl prefer to employ the governor shown in my copending application filed on even date herewith, Serial No. 284,015, as that has been especially designed for use in connection with the present apparatus, although it may be used in other apparatus and hence in thisapplication I make no claim, per 86, to the specific governor construction since that forms the subject matter of my copending application referred to. The governor referred to, in its general nature, consists of a pair of contact elements 2627 which rotate together and are mounted on the end of the car wheel axle within the journal box, the electric circuit being closed. between the elements 26 27 upon rotation of'the car wheel by mercury 87 contained in the pockets 38 formed in the element 26, which mercury, on rotation of the parts, pours out through the outlets of the pockets and closes the circuit betweenv the members 26 -27 but as soon as the rotation ceases, the circuit will be instantly broken. A further detailed description of the governor is thought to be unnecessary.

So far as described, the manner in which my invention operates is as follows :-Assome the car to be at rest and the air released,the parts will then be in the position shown in Fig. 1, while in the wirin diagram the circuit at the governor D will be open, hence the circuit will be closed across the terminals K and open across'the terminals J. No current will fiow, however, for the reason that the circuit at B is open at this time. A soon as the car starts in motion, the circuit will be closed at governor D. which energizes the coil Gr, pulls down the armatur H, breaking the contact at K and closing the circuit at J, thereby permitting the battery currentv to flow across the contactors 1212 of the left hand set B (Fig. 8) and thereby energizing the right hand coil A ofthe elec- 'tromagnet 10 at the right in Fig. 1 and consequently pulling over themaster valve 4t withthefioating valve -5 in its initial position within the master valve. The parts then assume the position shown in Fig. 5, the run- 7 nin position with brakes released. The movement of the master valve from left to right in Fig. 1, opens the circuit at contactors set B and closes the circuit at contactors set E, thus breaking the circuit through the right hand coil A. No current will then flow from battery C through either of, the coils A orA. Now, assume that the operative applies the brakes: On doing this the air under pressure enters the chamber 2, passes through the ports 50 into chamber w from thence it passes through ports 51 into the interior of the valve 4 -bein the running position with the brakes set.

As soon as the momentum of the car has become reduced enough to cause the wheels to becomeflocked by the braking force (which occurs when the operative fails to release his air as the car slows down) the instant the wheel stops turning the electric circuit at the governor D will be opened, withvthe result that the magnet Gr becomes deenergized and armature H rocks to open the circuit at J and close it at K. As soon as this occurs the current from battery C will "flow across-contacts K and across cont-actors. 12 ofthe right hand set B and through the-left hand coil A to battery, thereby energizing the left hand coil which will cause the master valve and its contents to be drawn over again to. the left hand extremity of the cylinder 1, the parts now beingin the position shown in Fig. 7, the position of the parts when the wheel has become locked or ceased turningand the air is still applied- When the parts are in this position it will be observed that the air from the brake cylinder in chamber 2 passes through the ports v50 into the chamber y and through ports 5253 into chamber 2 which is in communication through the port 54: with the exhaust duct 17 of the valve, thus allowing the air pressure in the brake cylinder to be bled or reduced. At the same time the air from the space to the left of the valve 5 is escaping through the ports 51, chamber a" and port 3. at the predetermined rate dependent upon the position of the needle valve 3?. When the air pressure in the chamber x has fallen to a point. where-it will approximately equalize the pressure in the chamber y the spring 6 will function to push valve. 5 over to its initial positionat the left thereby cutting off the escape ofair through the ports 53 to. the chamberxeand hence holding the remaining air pressure in the brake cylinder. By adjusting the needle valve 3 this holding pressure may be regulated to any degree desired, it being understood that the hold-' ing pressure is such as will not lock the V ciici1itet gvernOi' v clcsedegc jviththere'siilt theit the 'fvztlve w'ill be sigeinj drztvvn" ever to its fight tan-d position-, ready} for 1 another 7 ftioi i V s i the fear" is standingstill end the applied the aiiv pl'esslire in the inder Will be =ceininunicelted t0 the inb'e-r 2 the e i rfisissing through the ports 1 to cheinb er y threu'ghthefports 52 into Qthe iirteriOr'bf-th *"alve' e K v w 'i ,7 i this pOS-lticn (if the "3nd '5, "imweveigtherean be no eiiic'e thefp'orts '52 *a"r'e* closed ei1i'st' cQinn1unicetieirwitlr the iioi ts 53 1 5 Y 1;"; .5 F. H *It: willelseZhe nou'eednjmtwhenthe valve niev'e s 'roin left'te i-ighti the tin contained inthjtis ace et'the i'igl1t 0'f e1ve% acts as a hushien to prevent'uhdiie jar (if the arts it {coil 101s energized abeutjninety-per cent. the jstreke (iii-the elve 4'. Durin-g the V even'ient 05f the valves atrcni the left hand pesfit" n ljtef the right, both valves V ui it,' the valve sminminin the 'ziineoperetve position with the velve t ring" th'el eiitire ineveinent and remains at '1 e extre ne'le'tt bf its a vel,1 be iiig held in ttpOSiti n-ty he springs. I (Bethe return inbvenient OfthjValVe L, i 0m -rightf emen," the containedat the lettbf the velveivill also act es ecushion'm prevent undue jeref 'the parts on the return mmenrent. The mat the'leit't ofthevelve 5 during 5 the nievenient eat the velvet; rein *46 mejextrunit to the ether'wvillel s'e; serve to bustier the ection e5 saidvalveend-prevent forceful impact of the vzirlve 'egainst the 0p;- osingwnr, 7'

also be noticed fronithe foregoing i 7 It will thatthe i valve -5 is thoroughly; protected from mechanical injury and there is nothing to prevent its action. "Therefore, in the event of failure ofcurrent, tztihire of governor device or mechanical injury, the device cannet release air from the brake cylinder and endanger the braking power of the brakes. Any dirt or foreign substance entering the valve from the brake cylinderis automaticztlly discharged by gravity through the portfi-it. "The'scree n l7 prevents dirt from entering theexhaust side. In ordeito inspect, clean ztnjdlubricate the parts the studs 7 19'1na'y be removed from one end-end access the eXaininaticn covers 15 allows thorough inspection of the switch contactors 12 and contact pieces ,9, and the'entire block ll and theswitch contacters carried thereby can readily be removed through the opening hat the f ivheel can mm:

and between the V 'tlie end 0f the -inm e1iient {IS the right hand to the va1ves -is'thu's obtained. Removing wi hen the cove-111533"elementarnepeeion er rep'ai'rf "It: is to;be* understcech of -cou v ivhere' pelts ere secured-together; 7 key pins 01' other Welldincivn ine chan' e giiinstecciden ally unscrewing but es 1 h s; a mereineehz n cah de'ta11;= of struetu thoughtit unnecessary to illustratethesaine.

vices.befenipleyedj to -{held th 'pierts lldesire to' eni 'nteneen to the net that bythe-us'eo t my inventien iircese e111 stepjef the "car; encugh giir i' is] released to j prevent ind eliminate all cli atteriztnd shtick t0 i then'in i teatime the" full e-ii jpi-essme' is c llcvved i "the brakes fei e with the normal Operation "of the air "brakes, preventing tniy the slidi get;

ivheels o'nthe'rziil ihetly iii'eper is in inqtl'en'; 1t insures full braking eth- Cien cy, cregzirdleesOrEreil: cenditi'ensg making 7 w V t and the brztking equipineiit m re effie eliminating till hazard 0i: a sl ding precludes ell necessity for -h'eelrchenges I011 ec' hnt Offi2tts it saves air inasinn the can: can bebrought tee; stopilnthe mini- 11 mm amount of treveletteit the bral' "have beenepplied ivithciifl the fietting? c or slid" WVith my invention "itfwill 1e unnecessary ventioniivill Operate eqiielly "Well oni hiito inatic and tstrztight air 'brzike {equipment The'ieii' i'sinot'touche'd until hitter has 59, 60 and duct '60 t6 the right hendend of the 5 usual longj-"dfrziv'in but steps 7 V alternately"apply ngend-release Y ing znr iuiitlletop' has been-made; The infair pressure frc n the; main c cylinder 1 or when the-valve 64% in the epposite ipesitienv to that shown ill-Fig. 10, the fluid is 'di'stribute dvia ports-58', 61, 62 ind duct 62 to'the left hand end of'the cylinder. The valve 6% is shifted to the right or left by the magnets "10? (corre- 'sponding to the diagram windings A and A, see Fig. 8). Suitable contztctor sets 12"'12 (corresponding to the sets B B",

lfig. 8) are arranged to be closed bythe plungers 9 on the armatures 7- which carry port 58 around the barrel of valve 64 through port 61 to chamber 62, from'whence it passes, through duct 62*, into the left hand end of cylinder 1 and forces the valve 4 to theright. The air at the right of the valve 4 passes through duct 60 to chamber 60 and via port 59, into the casing 56 around the barrel of the valve 64 and escaping around the left hand armature 7 x into case 16 from which it exhausts to atmosphere via ports 16 As soon as the car wheel ceases to turn, the valve 64 is shifted back to the left (by energization of the left hand magnet 10, A) and the valve 4 will likewise be forced back in the same direction. The action of the valves 4 and 5 on the brake cylinder air is the same in this form as in the previously described form and a repetition of the description of this action is thought to be unnecessary. g

7 Other modifications of the invention can readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the spe cific details of construction shown and described beyond what may be required by the state of the prior art.

What I claim is: r

1. Inapparatus of the class described, a valve mechanism adapted to be connected with the air brake cylinder and having instrumentalities for relieving the air pressure therein, combined with an electromechanical means including a circuit opening and closing device actuated by themotion of the car wheel for controlling the action of said instrumentalities. 1

2. In apparatus of the class described, a cylinder having a port in communication with the atmosphere and 7 another port adapted to communicate with the brake cylinder of the air vbrake system, a valve operating in said first mentioned cylinder to bring said ports into communication at times, and electrically actuated mechanism including a circuit opening and closing device cooperative with the rotation of the car wheel for shifting said valve.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a compound valve mecha nism including shiftable'valve elements for relieving the air pressure in a braking cylinder; of electro-operative means for causing the shifting of said valve elements from one position to another according as the wheel of the car rotates or ceases to rotate to thereby hold or release respectively the air in the brake cylinder, said electrooperative means itself including a circuit opening and closing device functioning in harmony with the car wheel.

4. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a compound valve mechanism including shiftable valve elements for relieving the air pressure in a braking cylinder; of electro-operative means for causing the shifting of said valve elements from one position to another according as the wheel of the carrotates or ceases to rotate to thereby hold or release respectively the air in' the brake cylinder, said electromagnetic means including operating magnets, a source of current energy connected therewith, current switches, and a relay for causing the energization of the electromagnets alternately, and a circuit governor operative in harmony with the rotation of the car wheel for governing the action of I said relay.

I 5. A compound valve mechanism including a cylinder having a chamber adapted to be connected with an air brake cylinder, a compound valve itself including a master valve and a floating valve in said cylinder,

' said cylinder having ports from said chamber into the the interior of the cylinder and exhaust ports, said chamber governed by the position of said compound valve, electrically controlled means for actuating said valve to hold the air pressure in the brakecylinder when the car is atrest with the brakes applied and while the car wheels are turning with the brakes applied, and to relieve the air pressure on the brake cylinder when the wheels of the car cease to turn.

6. A compound valve mechanism comprising a cylinder, a master piston valve in said cylinder dividing the cylinder into several chambers, said cylinder having exhaust ports to atmosphere and an inlet "port adapted to be connected in communication with the brake cylinder of the air brake system, said ports being governed by said master valve, said-master valve having an internalchamber, a second valve in the master valve chamber, said master valve having ports for eflecting communication between its internal chamber and said cylinder chambers, said second valve controlling said last named ports, eXternally governed means for shifting said master valve with said second valve as a unit in one direction, said second valve adapted to be shifted further inthe same direction by the pressure of the air within the cylinder,v said valves when shifted in jsaidflunitary direction serving to hold the air pressure againstrelief, means for shirt- (degree .7

'Z. In apparatus vof the class described,

position of the-master valvewhereby to effect communication between theinlet port, i of saidvalve cylinder and the exhaust port of the same to relieve the airlpressure, and means-for movin said second valve to close Oif the Y relieving communication when the pressure has fallen below a predetermined mechanism forreducing the pressure in an air brakecylmder from emergency to service appl1c at1on,-sa1d mechanism. comprising a 1 compound valve apparatus adapted to be connected' with the air brake'cylinder and having provision for exhausting the a r from said air brake cylinder to atmosphere at times, saidapparatus including a com pound valve tself including a master valve andtaffioating valve for controlling the pressure relief and1electro operat1vevmecha-z nism governed by the movement of the carv wheelfor shifting saidrvalve.apparatusto its functionmg positlons...

8. A: compound valve mechanism .com-.

" prising a valve casing having a chamber and having intakeports to said chamberand exhaust ports from said chamber, a compound piston' valve'itself including a master valve and a fioating'valve operating 1n S2t1d'O3.S-'

ing' for controlling the communication be tween said intake ports and saidexhaust' ports, means for shifting said compound valve from one position to another, and: I meansfor cushloning the IllOtlOIT of 'sald piston valve operating in said casing" for controlling the communication between said intake ports andsaid exhaust ports, means for'shifting said compound valve from one position to another, means for cushioning the motion of said "compound valve atthe extremities of its movement, saidgcompound valve itself comprising a master valve having'a' chamber and ports for efiecting com; munication between the exterior of the mas: ter valve and the internal chamber thereof, and a floating 'valve';with in the chamber of the master valve "for controlling the ports communicating with the chamber of "the master valve, said -cushioning means including provisionslfor cushioning the stroke of thefloa'ting valve." ,7 I. 1

10, In apparatus of the class described, a compound valve mechanism comprising'ia cy inder,- h ds S W d t S i cy d r, Casi ings" securedt'o' said heads, operating'electromagnets in said casings, circuit closing ingsaid valves a5; unit back to the initial 3 and opening switch contacts in said casings, ia compound valve in saidcyllnder, armaj tures connectedto theends of saidvalve and.

governor adapted to operatev in harmony wlththe movement offthe .car-whee'li'for alternately energizing .saidelectromagnets to'shift the compound valve from one ens; tremity'toanother according as thecar"v wheel is turning or is at: rest, said cylinder having a pressure; chamber adapted to be connected with-the air brake cylinder and having a port in communication; with the interior of the same, said cylinder havingeXhaust ports, said inlet and exhaust ports of said cylinder being controlleclbysaid compoimd' valve, said cylinder rhaving a" supplemental relief. portalso controlled by said compound valve substantiallylas shown and'for the purposes described. 7 i 1 11; A compound valve mechanism comprising a cylinder having a pressure chamber and an exhaust chamber, portsbetween the pressure chamber and 'the interior of the cylinder, ports between the interior of the cylinder and the exhaust chamber, said cylinder having a supplemental relief "port toatmosphere from the interior of the cyl-v inder, means for varying theeiiect'of said relief port, a compound valve operating in said cylinder for controllingsaid'ports,said compound valvecomprlsing' a master'fvalve having a tubular body provided with'a plu 7 r'ality of piston members spaced apart to divide Stud cylinder intothree intermediate chambers and two end chambers, afioati'ng valve within said tubular body for controlling the ports offsaid tubular body," saidfflo'ating valve *be'ing 'movable in one direction within said tubular body by fluid pressure, means for imoving said floating valve in an" opposite" direction when said fluid pressure is released, means for'moving said master valve and'its con tained floating valve as a' unit fr'om oneend the pressure chamber-andthe interior o'f'the.

cylinder, ports be'ti'veen the interior}of. the

. cylinder j and, the exhaust; ohambeijz id: 1; inder a:

to atmosphere from the interior 1 of the f. a d fi e f 1' 1 's. em usizlva e 'io'o ofsaid cylinder to the other; andmeans fm cushionlngthe strokes of said valves cylinder, jmeans'Pfor varying the effect I operating; in said cylinder "'for" control-- 7 ling said ports, said compound valve comprising a master valve having a tubular body provided With a plurality of piston members spaced apart to divide the cylinder into three intermediate chambers and two end chambers, a floating valve Within said tubular body for controlling the ports of said tubular body, said floating valve being movable in one direction Within said tubular body by fluid pressure, means for moving said floating; valve in an opposite direction when said fluid pressure is released means for moving said master valve and its contained floating valve as a unit from one end of said cylinder to the other, means for cushioning the strokes of said valves adjacent to the limits of their movements, said means for moving said master valve from one end of the cylinder to the other comprising electro-n'iagnetically actuated devices and a circuit controller operative in harmony With the rotation of the car Wheels.

EBER FRANCIS PIERS. 

